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C++ program to read string using cin.getline()

Learn, how can we read a string using cin.getline() in C++?
[Last updated : March 01, 2023]

Reading string using cin.getline()

Since cin does not read complete string using spaces, stings terminates as you input space. While cin.getline() – is used to read unformatted string (set of characters) from the standard input device (keyboard). This function reads complete string until a give delimiter or null match.

cin.getline() Example in C++

In this program will read details name, address, about of a person and print in different lines, name will contain spaces and dot, address will contain space, commas, and other special characters, same about will also contains mixed characters. We will read all details using cin.getline() function and print using cout.

C++ code to read string using cin.getline()

/*C++ program to read string using cin.getline().*/
#include  <iostream>
using namespace std;
 
//macro definitions for maximum length of variables
#define MAX_NAME_LENGTH     50
#define MAX_ADDRESS_LENGTH  100
#define MAX_ABOUT_LENGTH    200
 
using namespace std;
 
int main()
{
    char name[MAX_NAME_LENGTH],address[MAX_ADDRESS_LENGTH],about[MAX_ABOUT_LENGTH];
 
    cout << "Enter name: ";
    cin.getline(name,MAX_NAME_LENGTH);
 
    cout << "Enter address: ";
    cin.getline(address,MAX_ADDRESS_LENGTH);
 
    cout << "Enter about yourself (press # to complete): ";
    cin.getline(about,MAX_ABOUT_LENGTH,'#');    //# is a delimiter 
 
    cout << "\nEntered details are:";
    cout << "Name: "  << name << endl;
    cout << "Address: " << address << endl;
    cout << "About: " << about << endl;
 
    return 0;
}

Output

Enter name: Mr. Mike Thomas
Enter address: 101, Phill Tower, N.S., USA
Enter about yourself (press # to complete): Hello there!
I am Mike, a website designer.
My hobbies are creating web applications.#

Entered details are:Name: Mr. Mike Thomas
Address: 101, Phill Tower, N.S., USA
About: Hello there!
I am Mike, a website designer.
My hobbies are creating web applications.